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Film Studies: Genres for Screenwriters, Directors, and Filmmakers
Angelia Derrick (she/her)
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(168)
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Future directors, screenwriters, and film fans will go over the common tropes for popular movie genres, learn about audience expectations, pick a film to watch each week, and come up with their own movie ideas.
Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
genre - a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in tone, form, style, or subject matter This class is for anyone who loves and/or wants to make movies. We'll go over various genres and what the audience expects of that genre when they go to the movies. Knowing the expectations of each genre helps you to understand your audiences' expectations. You need to know the rules before you make the conscious decision to break them if you are looking to subvert audience...
8 lessons//8 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Coming-of-Age and Fish-Out-of-WaterLearn about the two genres: coming-of-age and fish-out-of-water. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: My Girl, Love Simon, Legally Blonde, City Slickers, Crocodile Dundee, and Back to the Future. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 2Lesson 2Horror and ThrillerLearn about the two genres: horror and thriller. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: Get Out, Scream, A Quiet Place, Panic Room, Along Came a Spider, and Runaway Jury. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 3Lesson 3Action and AdventureLearn about the two genres: action and adventure. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: Die Hard, Atomic Blonde, Batman Begins, The Mummy, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and The Princess Bride. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 4Lesson 4Romantic Comedy and Buddy ComedyLearn about the two genres: romantic comedy and buddy comedy. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: While You Were Sleeping, Fever Pitch, 50 First Dates, The Heat, Dumb and Dumber, and Zootopia. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 5Lesson 5Western and HistoricalLearn about the two genres: western and historical. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: The Magnificent Seven (2016), Young Guns, True Grit (2010), Hidden Figures, Gladiator, and The Book Thief. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 6Lesson 6Science Fiction and FantasyLearn about the two genres: science fiction and fantasy. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: The Martian, Arrival, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Penelope, Enchanted, and Legend. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 7Lesson 7Disaster and WarLearn about the two genres: disaster and war. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla, Starship Troopers, War Horse, and Behind Enemy Lines. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.Week 8Lesson 8Comedy and DramaLearn about the two uber genres: comedy and drama. We'll watch and analyze film clips from the following movies: Clueless, Spaceballs, Home Again, Little Women, Steel Magnolias, and Eat Pray Love. Watch a film from one of the genres and come up with your own movie idea.
- Students will understand what elements are required to write in the various genres.
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts: Creative Writing Certificates from Institute of Children's Literature Certificates from Institute for Writers Writing young adult fantasy and space opera under the pen name Angelia Almos.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: includedFeedback: includedDetails: Homework is only required if the student wants a grade. Students will watch genre movies of their choice and analyze them for genre elements. Student will come up with an idea each week (picking one of the two genres focused on that day) and write up a short description (paragraph to single page).Grading
Frequency: includedDetails: A letter grade can be provided at parent request. Grading will be based on posting their story ideas and thoughts on the movie they watched that week. Doing everything - A, missing one or two items - B, missing several items - C.
Students will need to have access to places to watch and/or rent/stream films.
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Some genres will focus on PG-13 or R rated movies which might include violence, foul language or sexual content as part of the storytelling. Some of the clips that we watch may contain cinematic violence and/or foul language. We will watch film clips from the following films: My Girl, Love Simon, Legally Blonde, City Slickers, Crocodile Dundee, Back to the Future, Get Out, Scream (1996), A Quiet Place, Panic Room, Along Came a Spider, Runaway Jury, Die Hard, Atomic Blonde, Batman Begins, The Mummy (1999), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Princess Bride, While You Were Sleeping, Fever Pitch (2005), 50 First Dates, The Heat, Dumb and Dumber, Zootopia, The Magnificent Seven (2016), Young Guns, True Grit (2010), Hidden Figures, Gladiator, The Book Thief, The Martian, Arrival, Rogue One, Penelope, Enchanted, Legend, Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla, Starship Troopers, War Horse, Behind Enemy Lines, Clueless, Spaceballs, Home Again, Little Women (2019), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Eat Pray Love.
Joined May, 2020
5.0
168reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Film/Cinema/Video Studies from California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Charter Oak State College
Pronoun: she/her/hers NOTE: If you were looking at one of my flexible schedule classes and they are suddenly gone, yes, I still have them, and I am currently figuring out which classes will be able to go into the new self-paced designation that...
Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$15
weekly or $120 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 6 learners
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Ages: 14-18
